Food display with shelving system

Abstract

A food storage device for storing a food product, a shelf positioned at least partially within the housing, and a coupling assembly coupling the shelf to the housing and adjustable (e.g., infinitely) to position the shelf in one of a plurality of different angles relative to the housing. Preferably, the housing comprises a frame creating a surface coupled to the coupling assembly, and a translucent panel coupled to the frame to facilitate viewing food product positioned in the housing. In one embodiment, the coupling assembly comprises a magnetic assembly including a magnet secured to the shelf and magnetically coupled to the housing. Preferably, the magnetic assembly further comprises a magnet holder secured to the shelf, wherein the magnet is secured to the holder. In this embodiment, the magnet can be secured to the magnet holder by an intermediate material (e.g., plastic) positioned between the magnet and the magnet holder. The coupling assembly preferably includes a bracket that is positioned in an opening in the shelf. For example, the bracket can include an upper protrusion that engages an upper surface of the shelf and a lower protrusion that engages a lower surface of the shelf.

1. A food storage device comprising:
 a housing defining a volume for storing a food product and including a frame having four posts, each with a front surface facing a front of the housing and a side surface perpendicular to the front surface, the housing further including translucent panels coupled to the frame to facilitate viewing the food product positioned in the housing; 
 a shelf positioned at least partially within the volume and adapted to support the food product, the shelf having a front edge lower than a rear edge such that the shelf is tilted toward the front of the housing; and 
 four magnetic assemblies coupling the shelf to the side surfaces of the four posts, the magnetic assemblies adjustable to position the shelf in one of a plurality of different angles relative to the housing, 
 wherein each magnetic assembly comprises a magnet secured to the shelf and magnetically coupled to the housing, 
 wherein each magnetic assembly further comprises a magnet holder secured to the shelf, wherein the magnet is secured to the holder, 
 wherein each magnetic assembly further comprises an intermediate material positioned between the holder and the magnet, and 
 wherein the shelf includes surface members and openings between the surface members, and wherein each magnetic assembly includes a bracket positioned in one of the openings between two surface members, each bracket engaging the two corresponding surface members to maintain the magnetic assembly in position. 
 
     
     
       2. A food storage device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each magnetic assembly comprises a magnet secured to the shelf and magnetically coupled to the frame. 
     
     
       3. A food storage device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate material comprises plastic. 
     
     
       4. A food storage device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each bracket includes an upper protrusion that engages an upper surface of each surface member and a lower protrusion that engages a lower surface of each surface member. 
     
     
       5. A food storage device comprising:
 a housing defining a volume for storing a food product, the housing including a frame with four vertical posts and a translucent panel coupled to the frame to facilitate viewing the food product positioned in the housing, each vertical post defining a post width less than the overall width of the housing; 
 a shelf positioned at least partially within the volume and adapted to support the food product; and 
 a coupling assembly including four magnets magnetically coupling the shelf to the housing, the coupling assembly facilitating the positioning of the shelf in an infinitely variable number of inclined positions relative to the housing, 
 wherein each magnet defines a magnet width that is less than the post width, 
 wherein each vertical post provides a surface and each magnet magnetically couples to a corresponding surface, 
 wherein the coupling assembly further comprises four magnet holders secured to the shelf, wherein the magnets are secured to the holders, 
 wherein the coupling assembly further comprises an intermediate material positioned between each holder and magnet, 
 wherein the intermediate material comprises plastic, and 
 wherein the shelf includes surface members and openings between the surface members, and wherein each coupling assembly includes a bracket positioned in one of the openings between two surface members, each bracket engaging the two corresponding surface members to maintain the coupling assembly in position. 
 
     
     
       6. A food storage device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each magnet is secured to the shelf and magnetically coupled to the frame. 
     
     
       7. A food storage device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each bracket includes an upper protrusion that engages an upper surface of each surface member and a lower protrusion that engages a lower surface of each surface member. 
     
     
       8. A food storage device comprising:
 a housing defining a width and a volume for storing a food product, and including vertical posts each having a width substantially less than the width of the housing, the housing further including a translucent panel coupled to the vertical posts to facilitate viewing the food product positioned in the housing; 
 a shelf positioned at least partially within the volume and adapted to support a food product, the shelf including surface members and openings between the surface members; and 
 magnetic assemblies coupling the shelf to the housing and adjustable to position the shelf in one of a plurality of different angles relative to the housing, each magnetic assembly coupling the shelf to a corresponding vertical post, each magnetic assembly including, 
 a magnet holder secured to the shelf, 
 a magnet secured to the shelf and to the magnet holder, the magnet magnetically coupled to the housing, 
 an intermediate material positioned between the magnet holder and the magnet, wherein the intermediate material comprises plastic, and 
 a bracket positioned in one of the openings between two surface members, the bracket engaging the two corresponding surface members to maintain the magnetic assembly in position, the bracket including an upper protrusion that engages an upper surface of the shelf and a lower protrusion that engages a lower surface of the shelf.